Annual Institute of Library as Place

1. The Mindful Library:
Developing Placemaking in
Contemporary Libraries
Janna Levitt, LGA Architectural Partners
Stephen Abram, Lighthouse Consulting Inc.
Annual Institute of Library as Place 2017

2. Placemaking
• Project for Public Spaces
• What is Placemaking?
• What if we built our communities
around places?
• https://www.pps.org/reference/what_i
s_placemaking/
• www.pps.org
T (212) 620-5660

3. 11 Principles of Placemaking
1. The community is the expert.
2. You are creating a place, not a design.
3. You can't do it alone.
4. They'll always say, "It can't be done."
5. You can see a lot just by observing.
6. Develop a vision.
7. Form supports function.
8. Triangulate.
9. Start with the petunias.
10. Money is not the issue.
11. You are never finished.
http://placemakingchicago.com/about/principles.asp

4. Context Setting
Library (old and recent):
• Strategic Plan
• Technology Plan
• Program Plan
• Master Plan

5. Town, City, County, Region, etc.:
• Strategic Plan
• Economic Development Plan
• Neighbourhood/Downtown revitalization
Plans
• Master Urban Plans
• Demographic Projections
• Social Vitality Plans
• Social Services planning documents
• Culture Plans
• Specialties – e.g. Tourism, Cottagers, Trails,
etc.
• Critical Incidents, Local News Cycles
Four Dimensions of a Public Library
Context Setting

6. Provincial and Federal Context
• Heritage Assets
• Green
• Funding and Grants
• Infrastructure
• Technology Context
Context Setting

7. • Business Asset Mapping
• Demographics
• Employment & Income Profiles
• Business Profiles
Context Setting

8. • Community Assets
• Cultural Assets
• Social Services Assets
Community Asset Mapping

9. • http://www.librariesincommunities.ca/
Community Led Libraries Toolkit

10. Community Led Libraries Toolkit

11. Resources
• Community-Led Work in Practice: Experiences from Canadian libraries. (A series of papers written by CLA
Community-Led Library Service Network members exploring aspects of community-led work.)
https://clacommunityled.wordpress.com/the-network/
• Cecchetto, Andrea and Leah Rucchetto (2015). Let the Community Lead: MPL’s Community-Led Strategic Planning
Process (PDF). Blog post available here
• Fullerton, Amanda and Sara Gillis (2015). Strength in Partnerships: Rejuvenating library service in a rural
community (PDF). Blog post available here
• Pateman, John (2015). Developing a Community-Led Strategy (PDF). Blog post available here
• Pateman, John (2015). Creating a Community-Led Staff Structure (PDF). Blog post available here
• Pateman, John (2015). Developing a Community-Led Service Structure (PDF). Blog post available here
• Pateman, John (2015). Developing Community-Led Systems (PDF). Blog post available here
• Pateman, John (2015). Developing a Community-Led Service Culture (PDF). Blog post available here
• Young, Laura (2015). Connecting Communities: Edmonton Public Libraries’ epl2go mobile service (PDF). Blog post
available here
Community Led Libraries Service Network

12. Toolkits, Guidebooks & Resources from Canadian Public Libraries and Library
Organizations
• Edmonton Public Library. (2014). Community-Led Handbook. Retrieved
from http://www.epl.ca/sites/default/files/Marketing/epl_community_led_hdbk_dft_6.pdf
• Edmonton Public Library. (2013). Community-Led Service Philosophy Toolkit. Retrieved
from http://www.epl.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/CommunityLedServicePhilosophyToolkit.pdf
• Ontario Library Association’s Open Shelf online magazine includes a regular column by John Pateman called Open
for All? http://www.open-shelf.ca/columns/open-for-all/
• Vancouver Public Library. (2014). Connecting the Dots: A Guidebook for Working with Community. Retrieved
from http://www.vpl.ca/images/uploads/file/pdf/CTD.pdf
• Working Together Project. (2008). Community-Led Libraries Toolkit. Human Resources and Skills Development
Canada. Retrieved from http://www.librariesincommunities.ca/resources/Community-Led_Libraries_Toolkit.pdf
Community Led Libraries Service Network

13. Books & Articles
• Bird, Amanda and Pilar Martinez. (2013). Ensuring that Public Library Strategic Planning (and Thinking) is Community Led. Feliciter 59(6), 19-20. Also available
from http://www.cla.ca/feliciter/2013/6/mobile/index.html#link-comm
• Bird, Amanda and Anne Olsen (2013). Introducing Community-Led Work. Feliciter 59(1), 10-11. Also available from http://www.cla.ca/feliciter/2013/1/mobile/index.html#13
• Campbell, Brian. “’In’ vs. ‘With’ the Community: Using a Community Approach to Public Library Services,” Information for Social Change. 22, Winter 2005/2006:Retrieved
from http://www.libr.org/isc/issues/isc22/22-2b.pdf
• DeFaveri, Annette. (2005). Breaking Barriers: Libraries and Socially Excluded Communities. Information for Social Change. 21. Retreived from http://libr.org/isc/articles/21/9.pdf
• DeFaveri, Annette. (2006). Culture of Comfort. Information for Social Change. 22. Retrieved from http://libr.org/isc/issues/isc22/22-2.pdf
• Frank, Flo, and Anne Smith. (2010). The Community Development Handbook. 1999. Human Resources Development Canada, Ottawa. Retreived
from http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/epb/sid/cia/comm_deve/handbook.shtml
• Hicken, Mandy.(2004). To Each According to his Needs: Public Libraries and Socially Excluded People. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 21(2).
• Gehner, John. (2010) Libraries, low-income people and social exclusion. Public Library Quarterly, 29:39-47.
• Kushner, Els (2013). “Go Out There and Fail” : A Personal Account of Community-Led Work with the Early Years. Feliciter 59(4), 8-11. Also available
from http://www.cla.ca/feliciter/2013/4/Feliciter-2013-V59-I4_TXT.htm#_Toc363108040
• Lukasik, Laura (2013). Leveraging Partnerships in a Community-Led Library Model. Feliciter 59(3), 11-12. Also available from http://www.cla.ca/feliciter/2013/3/feliciter_v59-
3.html#_Toc358023398
Community Led Libraries Service Network

14. Books & Articles
• Martinez, Pilar, Williment, Kenneth. (2012). Canadian Libraries: Innovating and Creating Innovative Services. Bis. Retrieved from http://foreningenbis.com/bis-pa-engelska/public-
libraries/canada/
• Middleton, Sophie and Sadie Tucker. (2013). Developing Community-Led Training: Putting Principles into Practice. Feliciter 59(2), 10-11. Also available
from http://www.cla.ca/feliciter/2013/2/html/feliciter59_2_april2013.htm#14
• Muddiman, D., Durrani, S., Dutch, M., Linley, R., Pateman, J., & Vincent, J. (2000). “Open to All? : The Public Library and Social Exclusion.” London: Resource: The Council for
Museums, Archives and Libraries. Retrieved from http://eprints.rclis.org/6283/1/lic084.pdf
• Muzzerall,Darla et al. (2005). Community Development Librarians: Starting Out. Feliciter 51(6), 265–67.
• Pateman, John. (2003). Developing a needs-based library service. NIACE lifelines in adult learning: 13. Leicester: NIACE.
• Pateman, John. (2007). Developing a Needs-based Library Service. Information for Social Change 26: 8-28. Retreived
from http://www.libr.org/isc/issues/ISC26/ISC%2026%20full%20issue.pdf
• Pateman, John and Vincent, John. (2010). Public Libraries and Social Justice. Farnham: Ashgate.
• Pateman, John and Williment, Ken. (2013). Developing Community-led Public Libraries: Evidence from the UK and Canada. Farnham: Ashgate.
• Singh, Sandra. (2010) Librarians as Information Providers and Facilitators: The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre as a Model for the Expansion of the Role of Academic Libraries in
University-Community Engagement. “One Road In, Many Roads Out; Education as a Catalyst for Regeneration Conference”, University of Limerick.
• Singh, Sandra, Campbell, Brian and DeFaveri, Annette. (2008). Toward an Inclusive Library Service: The Working Together National Demonstration Project, in Reaching Out:
Innovation in Canadian Libraries. Laval, Quebec: Presses de l’Université Laval.
Community Led Libraries Service Network

15. Books & Articles
• Surette, Soleil (2013). The Challenge of Evaluating Communnity-Led Word. Feliciter 59(5) 13-14. Also available
from http://www.cla.ca/feliciter/2013/5/Feliciter5_Vol59_FINAL.html#cls
• The Network. Information Resources. (2010). Found at http://www.seapn.org.uk/informationResources.asp?cat_id=21&cSort=titleAsc
• Urban Libraries Council. (2005). The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building. Retrieved
from http://www.urbanlibraries.org/associations/9851/files/ULC_PFSC_Engaged_0206.pdf
• Williment, Ken. (2009). It takes a community to create a library”. Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, 4(1). Found
at http://www.criticalimprov.com/index.php/perj/article/view/545/1477
• Williment, Ken, Jones-Grant, Tracey, and Somers, Denise. (2011) From Project to Branch Integration and Sustainability: Community-Led Work at Halifax Public Library. Public
Libraries, 50(2). Found at http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/from-project-to-branch-integration-and-sustainability-community-led-work-at-halifax-public-libraries/
• Williment, Ken and Pateman, John. (2015). Les usagers aux manettes… : Developper des bibliotheques publiques pilotees par les usagers. Bibliotheques(s), Oct. 15 (80). Found
at abf.asso.fr/boutique/
• Wilson, Kerry and Birdi, Briony. The ‘right’ man for the job? The Role of Empathy in Community Librarianship. London: Arts and Humanities Research Council. Found
at: http://www.shef.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.128131!/file/AHRC-2006-8-final-report-04.08.pdf
Community Led Libraries Service Network

16. Resources
Websites
• Working Together Project (Canada) http://www.librariesincommunities.ca/
• The Network (UK) http://www.seapn.org.uk which includes links to the theme-based working papers used to develop research for the Open to All? report
(http://www.seapn.org.uk/informationResources.asp?cat_id=21&ir_id=29)
• Libraries Transforming Communities (American Library Association) http://www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/libraries-transforming-communities
Online Presentations and Videos
• Education Institute three-part Community Led Library Service webinar series with Edmonton Public Library (November-December 2013):
• Part 1: Community Led Library Service – Just Getting Started (with Kim Bates and Shannon Clarke, November 21, 2013)
• Part 2: Community Led Library Service – Implementing Across Your System (with Amanda Bird and Melanie St-Onge, November 28, 2013 )
• Part 3: Community Led Library Service – Evaluation (with Mark McHale and Linda Garvin, December 5, 2013)
• Relationships: The heart of community-led library service. John Pateman’s presentation at Edmonton Public Library, June 2013.
• Community Led Library Service Development. Infopeople webinar presented by Francisca Goldsmith, June 12, 2013.
• Putting the Public Back in Public Libraries: Community-Led Libraries, WebJunction webinar presented September 26, 2011. Presenters: Tracey Jones-Grant, manager of
ELL, Literacy and Diversity Services, Halifax Public Libraries; Kenneth Williment, Community Development Manager for Halifax Public Libraries; and Randy Gatley,
Community Librarian, Vancouver Public Library
• Community Development in a Library Context: an audio conference given by Annette DeFaveri on November 23rd, 2006 for the Education Institute.
Community Led Libraries Service Network

17. • FOPL and Provincial Statistics
and Measurements
• LDRI
• Holes and Gaps
• Causations and Correlations
• Instinct and Insights
Peer Comparisons

18. SERVICE
• Collection units per capita
• Employees per capita times 1,000
• Population per workstation.
• Population per service point.
USAGE
• Stock turnover
• Circulations per capita
• Program attendance per registered borrower.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
• Programs offered per capita.
• Registered borrowers per capita.
• Hours open per capita times 100.
• Estimated Annual Visits per capita.
EFFICIENCY
• Collection expenditures per circulation.
• Estimated Visits per open hour.
• Total Expenditures per estimated annual visit.
DEVELOPMENT
• Staff Training as a % of Total Operating Expenditures.
• Total Operating Expenditures per capita.
5 Peer Dimensions – 21 Real Measurements

19. First Nation Public Libraries, Peers and Influencers

20. • Focus Groups
• Online Surveys
• Market Probe Canada &
FOPL 2000, 2015, 2010, 2015
• Staff Interviews and Meetings
Taking The Community Temperature

21. • Key Opinion Leaders Interviews (Civil
Servants and Department Heads (IT, HR,
Parks&Rec, Economic Development, Culture,
etc.)
• Council
• Partnership Groups (Culture, Social Services,
Special Programs, Site Usage, etc.)
Taking The Community Temperature

22. • Seeking Insights
• Seeking Hot Buttons (e.g. AODA, Teens, Seniors,
Employment, Inclusions, diversity, etc.)
• Building Bridges
• Putting funding into its place
• Building collaboration and cooperation
• Seeking buy-in to shared Vision
Art, Craft, and Tools

23. The Architectural Process

24. Halifax Public Library Kitchener Public Library
Some Community Libraries

25. Seattle Public Library Scarborough Public Library
Some Community Libraries

26. Cambridge Libraries and Galleries York University Scott Library
Some Community Libraries

27. Caledon Public Library System
Alton Branch
Caledon East Branch
Caledon Village Branch
Inglewood Branch
Margaret Dunn Valleywood Branch
Mayfield West Branch (Future Branch)
Southfields Shared Facility Branch (Future
Branch)
Belfountain Branch
Caledon Public Library Process
Albion-Bolton Branch Margaret Dunn Valleywood Branch
Caledon Village Branch
Caledon East Branch Alton Branch
Inglewood Branch

28. • SWOT analysis
• How are staff and
patrons using the
library?
• What changes would
support the staff
experience and needs?
• What changes would
support the patron
experience and needs?
Existing Library Tour
Phase 1
Branch Tours
Albion-Bolton (Main Branch)
Caledon Public Library

29. Building Program
Phased Construction (4 phases):
• Phase 1 ‐ Q1 2019
• Phase 2 – Q1 2021
• Phase 3 – Q1 2023
• Phase 4‐ Q1 2025
• Existing 2‐storey branch with basement, part of larger recreation Centre.
• 2 New passenger elevators
• Infill existing atrium and create new one at renovated entrance
• New window openings on ground floor in two program rooms and on second floor in reading area & CEO office
• Remove existing partitions and washrooms as indicated on plans
• New washrooms ‐ 9 units
• New finishes throughout
• Allowance for new millwork where required
M &E
• include re‐distribution of HVAC vertical shafts and
• addition electrical and data outlets throughout
• replace existing lighting
• New Consolidated staff office area with systems furniture
• New program room and computer labs as indicated
• New kitchen in lunchroom to be used as a catering / demonstration kitchen (non‐commercial)
• New signage and branding for library on complex exterior
• Identify all exterior and interior
requirements.
• Develop a list of specific Mechanical,
Electrical, Plumbing, Lighting and
Ventilation requirements.
• Develop a comprehensive barrier free
strategy. OBC v AODA.
• Develop a matrix identifying all
critical adjacencies desired.
• Develop a wish list of programs and
services.
• Develop the type of finishes that are
desirable.
Phase 2
Written Description
Albion-Bolton (Main Branch)
Caledon Public Library

30. Caledon Public Library- Southfields (Future Branch) Caledon Public Library- Mayfield West 2 (Future Branch)
Phase 3
Bubble Diagrams
Albion-Bolton (Main Branch)
Caledon Public Library
Bubble Diagrams

31. Albion-Bolton Public Library
Ground Floor
Albion-Bolton Public Library
Second Floor
Phase 4
Concept Plans
Albion-Bolton (Main Branch)
Caledon Public Library
Plan Concepts

32. Phase 5
Cost Summary
All Branches – existing and proposed.
Caledon Public Library
Project Costing
• Costing is based on written and
graphic materials, photographs and
an outline specification.
• “Order of Magnitude” costing is
appropriate for a feasibility study.
• Don’t compromise your vision!
Consider the costs as a tool to refine
the vision!
• We develop breakout costs for all
“wish list” items and review with the
client before making decisions to cut
or reduce your goals.
• Build in escalation costs that will
allow you to track the costs for
several years.

33. Phase 5
Cost Summary
Albion-Bolton (Main Branch)
Caledon Public Library
Project Costing

34. • Seeking Council endorsement
• The presentation imperative
• Fundraising (it’s a professional skill)
• Internal organization CEO/Deputy
CEO
• Partnerships
• Costing vs. Funding
• The Role of Compromise
Strategic Execution

36. Happy to Chat
LGA Architectural Partners
• Janna Levitt, BA, BArch, OAA, AAA, FRAIC
• Partner
• 533 College Street, Suite 301
Toronto, Ontario M6G 1A8
• 416-203-7600
• lga-ap.com
• janna@lga-ap.com
Lighthouse Consulting, Inc.
• Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLA
• CEO
• 120 Perth Ave., Suite 412
• Toronto, Ontario M6P 4E1
• 416-669-4855
• stephen.abram@gmail.com